Traffic signal for automobiles



June 2. 2 I 1,539,950

T. OKAMOTO TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILES 7 Filed Jan. 11" 1924 QWMIZM 'Zwzvofaro O/Eamoio.

Patented June 2, 1925.

TOMOTAR-O OKAMO'IO, OF FOR-T LUPTON, COLORADO.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR- AUTOTIIOBILES.

Application filed January 11, 1924. Serial No. 685,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOMO'IARO OKAMOTO, a subjectof the Emperor of Japan, residing at Fort Lupton, county of Weld, and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traffic Signals for Automobiles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertain s to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to trafiic signals for automobiles.

The density of the automobile traffic on our streets and highways is so great that it is imperative that every automobile shall be provided with some serviceable indicating device which will enable the driver to apprise other drivers of his intention to turn, especially when a left-hand turn is contemplated. l/Vhen an ordinary touring car is used it is customary for the driver to extend his left arm whenever a lefthand turn is contemplated, but when a closed car is employed it is not convenient to use the arm for a signal and as a result the driver of a following car is left in ignorance of the intention of the driver of the car ahead to make a turn, with the result that accidents often occur.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simple and serviceable signal that can be readily attached to the body of any automobile, and which will enable the driver, by a slight movement of his hand, to display on the left-hand side of his car a signal that will be readily visible both from the front and from the rear of the car. It is a further object to produce a signal that shall have a very neat appearance and be inconspicuous when not in use.

My invention, briefly described, consists of a box or casing adapted to be secured to the outside of the framework of an automobile. This boX has its outer end open. Within the box is a helical coil spring which normally extends several inches outside of the box and is covered with thin red silk, thereby producing the appearance of a cylindrical side rod projecting outwardly from the side of the car. A cord is fastened to the outer end of the spring and extends axially therethrough and serves to compress the spring and to draw the same into the box. In order to prevent sagging of the spring the several coils are interconnected so as to form a trusswork that tends to hold the spring straight when projecting horizontally. I also provide a light within the spring and a'switch which automatically closes when the signal is in operation, but is kept in open position when the signal is inoperative.

In order better and more clearly to describe my signal and its mode of operation, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing in which the present preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a car showing my signal in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. l, and shows the signal in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to that in Fig. 2, but with the signal in extended or operative position; and I Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4l, Fig. 3.

The same reference characters will be used to designate the same parts throughout the several views. I

Numeral 1 designates one of the vertical posts of the frame of an enclosed car and 2 designates my signal as a whole. The signal consists of a cylindrical casing 3 which has one end closed and the other open. The open end is flared outwardly as indicated by numeral 4. Secured at one end to the bottom of the casing 3 is a coil spring 5 which in its normal extended position-projects a considerable distance out of the casing in the manner shown in Fig. 3, but which can be compressed to such an extent that it will be fully concealed in the casing in the manner shown in Fig. 2. In order to prevent the spring from bending downwardly when it is in extended position, I have connected the coils by four cords 6 extending parallel to the axis of the spring. The points where the cords are connected to the spring coils are connected by tension members 7, which form a trusswork in the manner shown in Fig.

i vent it from buckling, I have secure 3. When the coils of the spring are connected in the manner shown, it will sag or bend very little. A cord 8 is fastened to the outer end of the spring and extends through an opening 9 in the post 1 and serves to compress the spring and to hold it in inoperative position in a manner that will be hereinafter described. To guide the spring while it is compressed and to. re-

to the, coils a ring 10 through which the cord 8 pa ses; hi ng is l d pra ti ly on th a is of he sp wh c h e o ca n'Oi buckle without bending the cord '8 which is under tension and therefore resists being bent. As many of these rings ma beg provided as are found to be necessary. 'T e outside of the spring is covered with diaphanou's redsilk 11 and to the outer end I ecure a. soft rubber disk 12 that fits the 'flar'ed end of the casing and closes the same a ainstfthe entrance of dust and rain when te signal member'is in collapsed position. Secured within the casing is an indescent lamp 111 which, when lighted, illuminates "the interior of the signal member, making it low red. It is o f c(' nrse, unnecessary to have the lamp 111 lighted when the signal is inoperative and I have therefore designeda switch-mechanism that i will automatically light the lamp when the signal is operative. he switching device is. Construc a l o A contact 1 3 is secured to the inside of the post 1 and is connected by means of a screw 14 With one terminal of the lamp 111, the other terminal beingconnected 'to ground 15 by means of a conductor 16. A conductor 17 extends from the ignition battery 18 to a spring support and contact member 19. Member 19 carries'a pulley 20 over which the cord 18 runs and has guide ortions 21 and 22 that prevent the cord ro'm running off the pulley. A contact 23 projects upwardly fIOI the wide portion "21 and'is'n'ormally in electricj contact with the contact member 13 so that current can "flow from the battery 18 to the lamp 11 and to ground 15,. Member 19 is made of resilient material that will bend when subjected to a force and when so bent'the member 23 will be outjof contact with member 13 in the manner shown in Fig. 2., When thecor'd 8 is 'tensione'd for the purpose of compressing'spring 5 the strain put on the member 19 wi 1 cause the same to bend sufficiently to open the circuit. A hook 24 is secured to the post 1 and the cord has a stop member 25 secured to it in such 'a position that when the "spring'is fullyc'ollapsed it can be hooked under member '24 and will therefore hold the signal in inoperative position and the "circuit to the 'lamp open. When it is desired to display the signalas when making a left turn, the

member 25 is removed from the hook 24 and the sprin 5 permitted to expand into the position s own in Fig. 3 and at the same time member 23 will contact with member 13, closing the circuit to the lamp. When the tum ismade the parts are moved into the position shown in Fig. 2.

From the above it will be apparent that I have produced a signal that can be readily installed on a closed car and which will be inconspicuous when in inoperative position, but which will be readily seen when it is in operative position.

I have shown and described my signal as, used in, connection with a closed car, but it is evident'that it can be employed on any car whether of theopen or closed type. Having now 'escribed my invention, what I claim asnew is]: r Al a wmobil t flic signa o pr sng' a cyl nd l ox, hav ng (m end close and he othe nd open, a he i a sprin secured at one end to closed end of t e 1 said pri g h exten ed. pro

'jec'ting out of said box, a diapjhanous covme or sa spr ng, id co eri g bei g adapted to be illuminated by a lamp. within the same, a flexible member extending axially through the spri whereby it may be contracted and f0 n m a s conne d tat/he sp ingand operatively related to the flexible member for preventin buckling of the spring as is compresse 1 2. An automobile traffic signal compris- "ing in combination a box having one end open and the other end closed; a helical coil spring secured at one end to "the closed end of said box adapted to project from said box when free t'o expand and to be contained ithin said bo n mpressed, a covering of red diap'hanousrna: terial for the spring, means for compressing Said p g said'm ns c mp ing a "flex ible member extending throu' h the, spring centrally thereof and means secured tothe spring and cooperativel I related to the flexible memberfor preventing the spring from buckling while it is compressed.

3, A device in accordance with, Qlaim 2 in which the adjacent coils of the spring are interconnected 'by members so arranged as to form stress'triangi-les when the spring is extended position whereby the 5 ring when exte ded will remain substanially straight.

4. A devicein accordance with claim 2 in which the end ofithespringis provided "Withefl xib e membe pt tb lbse the end of the box when the Spring is com- P e ed 5. An automobile traffic signal com ris m on nd l s d nd -the-Qth r open, a

within th b 2 ing, in combination, a cylindrical b'oix 4w,

in said box, said spring being normally of such length as to project out of said box, means for compressing said spring so that it Will be entirely contained Within the box and means for preventing buckling of the spring While it is being compressed. A

6. An automobile traflic signal comprising, in combination, a cylindrical box having one end closed and the other open, a helical spring having one end secured Within said box, said spring being normally of such length as to project out of said box, means, comprising a flexible member extending longitudinally through the interior of said spring and connected to the outer end thereof, for compressing the spring and means secured to the spring and operatively related to the flexible member for preventing buckling of the spring While it is being compressed.

7. An automobile traffic signal comprising, in combination, a cylindrical box having one end closed and the other open, said spring being normally of such length as to project out of said box, means for compressing said spring so that it will be entirely contained. Within the box, means for preventing buckling of the spring While it is being compressed and a plurality of flexible members connecting various parts of said coil so as to produce stress triangles that tend to hold the spring rigid when in extended position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TOMOTARO OKAMOTO. 

